How should I perform a skin self-exam?

The earlier skin cancer is diagnosed, the better the chance for a cure. Everyone can benefit from skin self-exam, which involves checking your own skin routinely for abnormal growths or unusual changes.

The frequency of a professional skin cancer screening depends on personal and family skin cancer history as well as other risk factors, such as fair skin, outdoor activities and visible skin damage. I recommend that everyone 21 and older be checked at least yearly because melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, can develop rapidly and quickly spread internally. Melanomas often strike individuals with minimal sun-damage and only a few moles.

I advise more frequent visits for higher-risk patients - those with many large unusual-appearing moles, with severe sun damage and previous skin cancers, or with a family or personal history of melanoma. I may see these patients three to four times a year. For particularly difficult cases, I recommend baseline total body photography, a resource that can help patients at home monitor their moles.

The physician is very important in the skin cancer screening process, but you must share the responsibility by checking your skin monthly, becoming familiar with freckles, moles bumps or other growths, and bringing any irregularities to the attention of your doctor.

The easiest time to conduct the self-exam may be after a bath or shower. Ideally, you'll need a full-length mirror and a large hand-held mirror. Examine both the front and back of your entire body closely. Standing with your back to floor-length mirror, use the hand-held mirror to help examine your backside, including the back of your neck, arms and legs. Look at your buttocks and between your buttocks. Let your fingers help as well - feel behind your ears and through your scalp. Another valuable tip is to ask your hairdresser to point out any spots they discover on your scalp. You can also enlist a spouse or partner to help examine hard-to-see areas. Don't forget to check your nails, between the toes and the bottoms of your feet - a rare, but deadly form of melanoma unrelated to sun exposure may develop in these sites.

What should you look for? To help detect melanomas or skin cancers, use the A-B-C-D-E skin self-examination guide from the American Academy of Dermatology:

• A (asymmetrical shape). Look for moles with irregular shapes, such as two very different-looking halves.

• B (irregular borders). Notched or jagged borders are characteristic of melanomas.

• C (changes in color). Check for growths with many colors, especially a mixture of red, white and blue, or uneven distribution of color.

• D (diameter). Look for growths larger than about 1/4 inch (about 6 millimeters).

• E (evolving). Keep an eye out for changes over time, like growth in size or changes in color or shape. Also report any moles, blemishes or bumps that develop new symptoms, such as itching, soreness, crusting or bleeding.

By working with your physician and checking your skin each month for suspicious signs that might indicate early cancer, you can play a vital role in facilitating prompt diagnosis and a better outcome.